CELTICS -at- LAKERS - 2-20-13 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

The House That Dr. Buss Built… A Lakers vs. Celtics game can never be an afterthought, but it certainly played backup to the tribute for Jerry Buss and the new era for the Los Angeles Lakers.

He was the visionary, the leader, the innovator, the strongest voice, the loyal boss, the friend, the hustler, the maverick, the intellectual, the player, the king, the savvy businessman, the philanthropist, the gambler, the winner, the self-made man, the father, the champion, the legend. He made his mark and lived life on his terms.

"On Monday we lost what we all know to be the greatest owner in sports. Ever," said a watery eyed Kobe Bryant. "He was a brilliant, incredible owner, but he was even a better person with a great heart. His vision has transcended the game, and we are all, all, spoiled by his vision and by his drive to win year after year after year."

Kobe said the one thing that the Lakers could always count on was Dr. Buss overlooking the Lakers from his chair. He pointed to the spotlit seat of Dr. Buss, now empty.

Kobe certainly wasn't the only one with watery eyes in Staples Center -- that house of champions that Dr. Buss built -- or throughout Laker homes across the globe. But a game still had to be played.

The emotion carried through to the floor as the Lakers went to work. Everyone -- from Kobe to Dwight to Nash to Blake -- the entire team imposed their will from the start to finish, playing for each other and player for Dr. Buss. The attitude, the effort, the focus was all there.

The Celtics didn't stand a chance tonight. The Lakers would push out the lead to 20+ points at times, executing as a team on both ends and cruising to the 113-99 win over their rivals. Well done, guys. Well done.


Kobe -- -- "He will be missed but we've got to continue to carry on what he built," Kobe said of Doc Buss, "and carry it on in the right way and represent him the right way." The Lakers don't have too many long-time voices on the team to go to talk about Buss, but Kobe has been very eloquent. He's expressed himself and represented the organization quite well during all this. As for the court, great two-way effort from Kobe tonight, which even included a dive on the floor for a loose ball. He had that nice mix to his game of being both scoring threat and passing threat, not favoring one over the other. In fact, you didn't even really notice the poor shooting numbers with how well balanced the team was and how effective Kobe was of always being a threat. Well, except for the three shooting, which has been ridiculously bad. Even after getting some rest from the All Star game, he's still not dropping them. Makes you wonder how the health is. The Stats: He scored 16 points on 5-15 shooting (0-4 from three, 6-7 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 7 assists, 3 turnovers and 5 fouls in 33 minutes. He was a +11. The Action: He powered through a double team in the post and earned FTs, he made both. He hit Dwight off the screen-roll from the post for a dunk. He missed a wing jumper. He pushed out the break, faked the pass, took contact and banked in the And-1, he made the FT. He missed a pull-up jumper in transition. He missed a wing three. He posted up, looked mugged with no call and missed. He got held off the Jamison handoff, he made both. He grabbed a rebound and banked it back in while still in air from about 6 feet out. He was fouled on the perimeter, he made one FT. He missed a three with the shotclock low. He attacked baseline and powered in the layup, asking fot the call that never came. He attacked quick from the post and whipped a pass to Metta in the corner for three. He sank a tough fallaway against the shotclock. He scored 14 points on 4-9 shooting to go with 3 assists. Second Half: Nice challenge on the break to force a miss. He backed his man down, created some space and hit a tough fallaway before a five-second count. Great rotation to draw a charge under the hoop. He posted up, drew the double team and no-looked over his head to Clark for the dunk. He passed up a three to hit Dwight in the post for an easy score. He threw a pass away next time down attacking (layup the other way). He dove for a loose ball on D and we got the possession. He missed a pull-up jumper, short. He missed an open three. He whipped a pass to Jamison in the paint for a little flip in. Next time down, he lost his man on a spin, drew the D and hit Jamison for the layup. He missed a step-back fade trying to beat the shotclock. He was called for a foul trying to post up, then called for a tech. He had 16 points and 7 assists after the third. He was called for another offensive foul trying to get free as soon as he returned to the game. He missed a three in early offense, uggh (he just can't get any to drop). He curled into the lane and missed the short one.

Howard -- -- "We're going to do this for Dr. Buss," Dwight said of the remainder of the season. He played like he meant it tonight and set the tone in the paint. From the very start he was aggressive and working hard. He said he was thinking about getting the win for Buss all day. "Now we just got to keep it going," he said afterward. Probably the biggest part of improvement was some of the solid screens for Nash in the first half. You could see the floor just open up for Steve off of those and Nash hit easy jumpers. Once the Celtics got burned on that, they started to adjust some. Then, we saw the slip screen finally work for Dwight. We've been saying this forever, but that's how you play with Nash. Set him strong screens, allow his shooting threat to hurt the opponent and then things will open up for Dwight as he rolls. It's vital to making this team function properly and a huge part of our game. Dwight even said as much after the game. "It started with the pick and roll," he said. The Stats: He scored 24 points on 10-13 shooting (4-8 from the line) to go with 12 boards (7 offensive), 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 4 turnovers and 5 fouls in 30 minutes. He was a +22. The Action: He attacked KG hard from the mid post and scored a layup. He missed a putback tip attempt. He gathered a Metta miss and powered it in. He dunked off the little screen-roll with Kobe off the post. He was fronted, sealed his man as Clark shot and scored the putback layup. He aggressively spun and hit the jumphook bank from the right block. He blocked Green behind Kobe. He was called for clearing out to create space (needs to watch his arms on those plays, seems like it happens once a game). He was held in the post to draw FTs, he made both. He had 12 points and 6 boards in the first quarter. He was stripped in the post not protecting the ball well. He was fouled on a layup attempt, he made one. He picked up his second foul, caught in the air on a jumper on the perimeter. He fumbled away defensive board, no one around him, and it led to a Celtic three off the unforced error. He was called for a travel in the paint on the other end. He banked in a jumphook, looked fouled. He was hacked on the repost in front of the rim, he missed both FTs. He gave a red-hot Pierce too much space and he hit a three on him. He scored 15 points on 6-8 shooting to go with 8 boards (4 offensive) and 3 turnovers. Second Half: He drew FTs working the two-man game off a ball reverse with Nash, he made one. He missed a lefty hook across the lane. After Nash scored off a screen again, he then slipped screen and he dunked off the Nash's lob. He hit the jumphook off the glass with low position after setting a screen. He was called for a moving pick and was called for a tech. Easy putback layup off the Jamison missed layup. He had 22 points and 11 boards after three quarter. Great job getting to a Metta miss and restarting the offense (it would later lead to a Meeks And-1). He slipped a screen and was fouled with no call on a lob from Blake that he still made.

Nash -- -- With his 5th assists tonight, he passed Magic on the all-time assist list. "I congratulated him," D'Antoni said. "He says it just means he's old." True, but Nash still has a lot of game. Nash on passing his idol, Magic: "I definitely didn't see that coming when I was 15 years old." He mentioned afterward that he and Dwight got together and discussed their two-man game over the All Star break. We set some nice screens for him tonight (finally, Dwight) and that unlocked Nash's game. It's the key and Dwight just needs to sacrifice is desire to slip screens and get the ball. Let Nash work the body with open jumpers or drives and Dwight can later go to the head with lobs, layups and dunks. If you want to see how the chemistry should look for these two, just rewatch this game tonight. "We always tell Dwight when you run the pick and roll to make sure he hits his guy," Jamison said, "because it not only creates running room for Steve and he can see more of the floor, but also your man has to help. He has to make a decision, and it's either you or Steve." Exactly. All this talk about Nash being washed up, like his game is going to suddenly drop off that far from the superb ball he was playing last season, it's just off the mark. Watch what's happening and not happening off the ball and you will see how Steve's game goes. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 6-7 shooting (2-2 from three) to go with 4 boards, 7 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers and 1 foul in 30 minutes. He was a +13. The Action: He attacked and got tapped on a runner off glass. He was called for a hook on a drive. He sank a wing three on the Kobe swing pass. He swished the open pull-up wing jumper coming off the good sideline screen by Dwight. He sank a three behind a Dwight screen. He hit an elbow jumper off a great screen from Dwight. He crossed over his man badly and hit the 18-footer next time down working off the high screen again. He hit Clark on the pick and pop for a jumper. He got scored easily in the post out of a timeout. He scored 12 points on 5-6 shooting to go with 2 points. Second Half: He set up Dwight off the two-man game for FTs on a layup attempt. He worked off the Howard screen and scored a layup over a big. He lobbed to Dwight off the slip screen for a dunk (tied with Magic for fourth in assists all time). He whipped a pass under the hoop to Jamison for the score and passed Magic with that assist. Great job to bust up a breakaway. He swiped a pass and was fouled on the push out. He had 14 points and 5 assist after three quarters. Short on an outlet pass and it was picked off. He attacked baseline with the clock low and no-looked to Clark for the jam. He hit Clark for the jumper next time down.

Peace -- -- Pierce was on fire in the first half against Metta, scoring 23 points on 9-15 shooting. We weren't helping very well, for sure, and Pierce had too much room to work when he was feeling it. We finally made some adjustments and switches in the second half off some of those rub screens and the Pierce threat disappeared. He didn't have a field goal in the second half and would score just 3 points. He just didn't have looks to fire up right and left. Offensively, Metta had a series of open threes that took up half his attempts. Not a high percentage shot lately, but it seems to have been improving slightly. The Lakers had 7 players in double figures and the shots were distributed well. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 5-14 shooting (2-7 from three) to go with 4 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 1 foul in 41 minutes. He was a +14. The Action: He sank a wing three off a semi-split play. He missed a wing three. He missed a drive against Pierce. He stripped a guard on help D and pushed it out for a dunk. Left open, he sank the wing jumper standing on the three line. He barely hit rim calling his own number next time down. He missed a corner three on the kickout. He blocked Pierce's layup out of bounds. He sank the open corner three off the Kobe kickout on the other end. He missed a three from the other side. He stole an inbounds and missed a tough corner three at the buzzer, nice try. He had 10 points on 4-10 shooting, 2 steals and 1 block. Second Half: He scored a layup in the post against a smaller man. He missed an easy one in the lane over a shorter man. He missed an off-balance three. He missed the corner jumper.

Clark -- -- He had a career high hitting the boards tonight. He may not always have the points or the jumper, but the hustle can be his constant. "Lucky I play with Dwight because so many people try to box him out, I can just jumper over there and try to grab the rebound," Clark said. He mentioned also wanting to play hard in Buss's honor. His mobility on defense tonight was also a key. They had some strong rotations on D and some switches by Clark that helped cool down Pierce in the second half. Offensively, he was slightly more efficient than the numbers indicate, a lot of action on the boards to get his own misses. Some of the hustle plays have really endeared him to Laker fans. You can hear that on the cheers when he makes a play happen and you can hear it when he's subbed out. They appreciate hard work. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 6-14 shooting (0-3 from three, 2-4 from the line) to go with 16 boards (5 offensive), 1 steal, 1 block and 3 fouls in 38 minutes. He had a +/- of 0. The Action: Dwight was fronted, Clark flashed to the high post, took the pass, didn't have the high-low, but shot and missed, Dwight had great rebounding position and put it back in. He missed a short one in the lane off the Kobe feed, got it back and missed again but Kobe cleaned it up. He missed a wing three. He crashed the glass to grab a Metta miss, couldn't score in the crowd, got it back and jammed over the crowd. He hit the 19-footer off the pick and pop with Nash. He blocked Pierce's jumper, then drew FTs busting out in transition, he made both. He had 6 points on 2-7 shooting and 9 boards in the first half. Second Half: He dunked when Kobe no-looked over his head to him under the hoop. He missed a wing three. He jammed back in a missed Blake runner. Great hustle to get through a couple players and dive to tip it to a Laker (led to three Blake FTs). He had 10 points and 12 boards after three quarters. He didn't hit rim on a drive but got it back and kicked it out. He jammed off the drive and dish from Nash. He sank an open jumper next time down when Nash hit him again. He then stole a post entry to get a stop. Smart ball-fake-and-then-go to draw FTs at the rim, he missed both, however. He airballed an open wing three.

Jamison -- -- "We know that time is not on our side," Jamison said. "In order for us to turn this thing around, we need to start playing the way we're capable of playing." You can tell the difference in his game now as he's meshing with the team and they know what he's going to do and where he's going to be. It's simple chemistry. Kobe was finding him under the hoop, guys were hitting him when he cuts and they're looking for him in general. Like Nash, he's not a guy who's going to suddenly drop off so dramatically in his scoring after a single season. The team and coaches are finally figuring him out. Sure, the D will always be an issue...as it has been most of his career... but you have a guy like Dwight behind him or a versatile athletic defender like Clark who can take certain matchups and you can find productive minutes for Jamison. The Stats: He scored 15 points on 5-7 shooting (1-1 from three, 4-5 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 22 minutes. He was a +8. The Action: He was hit on a three for FTs, he made two. He crashed the glass to grab a Kobe missed three and scored a layup. He attacked baseline and was blocked. He had 4 points and 2 boards in the half. Second Half: He slipped a screen and missed as layup, but Dwight cleaned it up. He powered up a 3-footer over a defender when Nash spotted him under the hoop (that was Nash's assist to pass Magic...and I think the third play Jamison has been involved in this season where another player reached a milestone). He flipped in a short one in the front of the rim when Kobe spotted him. He scored another layup next time down when Kobe drew defenders and slipped a pass to him. He sank a wing three on the Blake kickout. He slipped a screen and drew FTs at the rim, he made both.

Blake -- -- Superb game from Steve. He was orchestrating that second unit well. To start the fourth, he helped hold the line and even extend the lead a little. That's not an easy task when we sub out all three of Kobe, Nash and Dwight for part of that. Keep that in mind whenever Blake's out there. He did get some run with those guys, too, later in the rotation. He found teammates under the hoop for several easy scores, great looks on some of those feeds. He also was a threat off the dribble, himself, which hasn't always been the case in the past. Defensively, he had some very nice moments and did a good job helping the team rebound, just always back there on the glass even if he only had a couple boards. When we team rebound, it makes a big difference...especially when Dwight is rotating to block shots or Clark is the center and we're playing small ball. Everyone just has to get back on the glass. The Stats: He scored 10 points on 3-8 shooting (1-4 from three, 3-3 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 5 assists, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 23 minutes. He was a -1. The Action: Great help D rotation to challenge a shot and help get a stop. He drained a wing three after surveying the floor on the move. He missed another the next time down calling his own number. He worked the two-man game with Dwight and set him up for FTs. Second Half: He missed a baseline runner, but Clark jammed it back in. He was hit on a corner three for FTs, he made all three. Horrible pass into a crowd and it nearly led to some breakaway points. Nice find, spotting Meeks cutting for FTs. He attacked next time down when the D didn't help and he scored a layup. He went behind his back to Jamison slipping a screen for FTs. Sweet baseball pass off the dribble to a cutting Meeks under the hoop for the And-1 reverse. He lobbed to Dwight off the slip screen for a layup. He missed a runner off the dribble. He missed a three with the shotclock low. He missed another three but got after his man in the backcourt and forced a double dribble. He swished a foot-on-the-three-line jumper.

Meeks -- -- He was scoring around the hoop tonight. No threes, just good cuts off ball to get open. Love seeing that and making the D play honest. His shot won't always be there. Defensively, we didn't let Terry do anything crazy this game. Always a good effort from Meeks on that end and with Terry you need to be there in front of him. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 1-3 shooting (3-4 from the line) to go with 1 board and 1 foul in 20 minutes. He was a +5. The Action: He attacked with speed and missed a layup. Second Half: He choked a layup off a great pass from Metta. Nice cut under the hoop and Blake found him for FTs on the layup attempt, he made one. He got a kind bounce on a tech FT. He cut under the hoop and Blake found him again for an And-1, he made the FT.

Duhon -- -- He got some garbage time run and hit one of his super long threes. The difference between Duhon running the offense and Blake running it is pretty apparent. Just better energy from Blake to always keep the offense churning. Duhon goes into to ghost mode and that doesn't help the team. Still, good to see us get some garbage time run against the Celtics. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-2 shooting (1-1 from three) to gow tih 1 board, 1 assist in 3 minutes. He was a -2. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: He attacked and was blocked on a dunk attempt. He swished one of his long threes off a Metta kickout.

D’Antoni -- -- The Lakers led 16-15 midway through the quarter. Pierce scoring a bit too much early on around Metta... He brought in Jamison for Clark out of that timeout... Up 8, he sat Metta for Meeks with 4 minutes left when Pierce was subbed out... He brought in Blake for Nash up 8... He sat Dwight for Clark with 1 minute left up by 10... The Lakers led 36-27 after the first quarter... He started a Clark, Jamison, Metta, Meeks, Blake lineup... The smaller lineup struggled to get some stops for a stretch and D'Antoni called timeout still up 8... He brought in Dwight for Jamison out of that timeout... He brought back in Nash after 4 minutes for Meeks... He sat Blake for Kobe midway through the quarter... He sat Dwight with 38 seconds left to protect him from getting a third foul... The Lakers led 64-55 at the half. They shot 51% (23-45, 5-12 3PT, 13-18 FT). They had just 4 turnovers. The Celtics shot 49% (24-49, 6-12 3PT, 1-4 FT). They had 5 turnovers off which the Lakers scored 9 points... The Lakers had some nice switches and rotations on D to start the half and worked their offense well on the other end, forcing a timeout after two consecutive dunks and stretching their lead to 18 after the first 4 minutes... He sat Clark for Jamison up 15 with 5:31 left... He brought in Meeks for Metta, then Blake for Nash up 18 with over a couple minutes left... He sat Kobe with the lead down to 13 with a minute left... The Lakers led 90-76 heading into the fourth. Got to win the first few minutes of the quarter... He started a Clark, Jamison Metta, Meeks, Blake unit... He brought in Dwight for Clark after 3 minutes, the lead now 19... The Lakers were up by 20 when Dwight picked up his fifth foul with 7 minutes left. He sat Dwight for Clark and Meeks for Nash... Midway through the quarter he brought in Kobe to go at SF, small lineup with Metta at PF... Up 16, he subbed Duhon for Nash and Meeks for Kobe with under 3 minutes left to cruise to the win... "We've settled into something we'll keep," D'Antoni said of the Lakers rotations...

[Vishnu]

won it for the Doctor

[George the Greek]

Thanks DB. I had a weird feeling that we were gonna win no matter what. Very emotional game.
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GET WELL SOON Black Mamba, you will always be my idol, the man I look up to, the most amazing person I have ever witnessed in my life. Thank you for changing my life.

[OregonLakerGuy]

Thanks DB.
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RIP Doctor Buss.
Best owner in sports history.

[Klone_dd]

Just back from the game. The Doc Buss tribute and that illuminated empty seat had me weepy. Kobe spoke very eloquently. Felt sorry for the little girl who muffed the Anthem, but it was a moment of levity in the solemn air.

As for the game, I thought Kobe played, understandably, with a heavy heart. His shot looked way off, but he was moving the ball well and with purpose.

Nash and D12 were meshing like we thought they could. 16/20 shooting from both combined will get it done. Excellent floor game by Nash. So sweet to have another playmaker on the floor. And it was probably D12's best post game so far.

Great adjustment at the half on PP. Does MDA get credit for that? PP was the only one doing damage. Once we focused on him, the Celts wore down and gave up.

[angrypuppy]

Thanks DB.

Emotional win, I hope we finally get some momentum and cohesiveness for the final stretch of games.

The biggest improvement was the emergence of the two man game between Nash and Howard. I just hope that wasn't an aberration, but rather something they can build on.

[busym]

A great game and a win. The Lakers need to keep playing like this.If they do they will be contenders in the playoffs. Another great write up DB. Thank you.

[limchrc]

Good win.

[Chronicle]

blake is a boss

[Arbitrary]

Thanks DB!

More wins please!

[Killer_Z]

I've been really impressed with Blake this season. The upgrade over Duhon/Morris has been huge. He may be having his best season with the team.

[SilverBullet]

Thanks DB.

Beautiful game between Howard and Nash. I hope we see more of that. And Nash is one heck of a shooter.
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The strong one doesn't win.The one that win is strong.

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Thanks DB.

What a fitting tribute to Doc - a decisive win over the C's.

[LakerEric]

Fantastic Victory!!! Let's rampage the 2nd Half and make the playoffs and go from there to rampage the second season!!!!

[wolfpaclaker]

First play of the game set the tone.

Posted up Dwight.

Then right after that, Dwight sets a good screen for Nash, and although Nash misses the shot, it set the tone for what he would do for Nash.

Dwight's D was there and this team was communicating.

I liked that we kept looking for Dwight early on, and it showed in results. Dwight backed up his statements. He really wanted this W, you could sense that the combination of getting the ball early, Mitch's statements and his emotions for Dr Buss passing away, all led to this.

Kobe was on that extra gear, you could tell he wanted to win this badly for Dr Buss. Our bench played well, I am liking how Blake and Jamison have played for a long time now. They've found some roles for themselves.

What I didn't like was that as the game wore on, we just started to settle for jumpshots and became lazy in the offense a bit, and defensively stopped challenging as well.

Boston is an abysmal 8-17 road team, so I don't think of them as much of a threat. They were just coming of a loss to Denver the previous night. Not exactly Boston at their best we were facing.

More than anything, I was proud these guys showed heart and passion to be Lakers. In what has been a disaster of a season, these guys made this a highlight of the season, perhaps. I think this will go down as the best game of the season, regardless of whether we make the playoffs or not.

[Lakersneuron]

[KB#8,#24]

[pio2u]

“His vision has transcended the game and we are all spoiled by his vision and his drive to win year after year after year.” Here’s hoping that the Lakers can honor Dr. Buss’ legacy by showing up to every game ready to put in the effort, ready to focus on the task at hand, and most of all – show up ready to win." .... Kobe Bryant

[LakerLanny]

Jamison has been fantastic after a slow start, he played really well again last night.

It is easy to forget that this guy is a proven NBA player.

Earl Clark has also been amazing and Dwight Howard actually looked like Dwight Howard finally.
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Love, Laker Lanny

[DancingBarry]

Programming Alert: I won't be able to cover the next game. Hopefully, someone can step up.